Parent Smart  

By Ann Pleshette Murphy

 4 big, easy boosts for your student

We asked the best and the brightest for easy, easy powerful way to get this school year off to a good start. Their tips:

1. Start the day right.

A nutritious breakfast can get lost in the morning rush.  Untraditional alternatives  (say, a whole-wheat tortilla with cheese, refried beans and leftover veggies) can be a satisfying, portable breakfast, says Marilyn Swanson of the USDA’s Children’s Nutrition Research Center in Houston. In a pinch, grab 100% fruit juice and leftovers from the fridge.  “Something is better than nothing,” she says.

 2. Bookmark the school website.

Keep up with school news online and with your kids’ teachers via e-mail. “Students with engaged parents tend to succeed,” says Jan Harp Domene, National PTA President.

 3. Work out during homework.

Research shows that physical activity helps a child academically. So toss a tennis ball during vocabulary drills or kick a soccer ball while reciting times tables, says Michelle May of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

 4. Put “ZZZ’s” on the A-list.

Insufficient sleep can hurt children academically the next day.  Get plenty of rest each night.  

 Ann Pleshette Murphy is the parenting expert for ABC’s Good Morning America.